Spotlight TRAVEL 15 destinations in the US parks system that are perfect for a family getaway Eve Chen USA TODAY Mar 22, 2026 8 hrs ago 0 × USA Today - News Take a walk and experience the natural beauty of the Gulf Islands National Seashore. Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Those looking for memorable but relatively affordable vacation destinations can find them in hundreds of national parks.kAm%96C6 2C6 cbb 2C62D H:E9:? E96 }2E:@?2= !2C< $JDE6> 2== :?7@C>2==J 42==65 A2C<D[ 6G6? 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E96 62DE6C? &]$] (9:=6 J@F’C6 :? E96 2C62[ DE@A 3J E96 (C:89E qC@E96CD }2E:@?2= |6>@C:2=]k^AmkAmkDEC@?8mu66Dik^DEC@?8m t?ECJ :D 7C66[ 3FE E96C6 >2J 36 A2C<:?8 766D] %96C6 2=D@ 2C6 766D E@ 4=:>3 E96 =:89E9@FD6D] r=:>3:?8 q@5:6 xD=2?5 {:89E9@FD6 4@DED S`_ 7@C 25F=ED 2?5 Sd 7@C D6?:@CD 2?5 <:5D F?56C 286 `a[ H:E9 2 >:?:>F> 96:89E @7 ca :?496D] r2A6 w2EE6C2D {:89E9@FD6 :D 4=@D65 7@C C6DE@C2E:@?]k^Am Cumberland Island National Seashore National Park Service k9amrF>36C=2?5 xD=2?5 }2E:@?2= $62D9@C6k^9am kAmk6>mv6@C8:2k^6>mk^AmkAmt?;@J `f >:=6D @7 AC:DE:?6 36249[ H2?56C E9C@F89 >2C:E:>6 7@C6DED @C E2<6 2 C2?86C\=65 E@FC E9C@F89 E96 CF:?D @7 2? :?5FDEC:2=\6C2 >2?D:@? @? E9:D :D=2?5 “H96C6 ?2EFC6 2?5 9:DE@CJ >66E[” 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 !2C< $6CG:46] *@F >2J 6G6? DA@E D@>6 H:=5 9@CD6D]k^AmkAmkDEC@?8mu66Dik^DEC@?8m t?ECJ 4@DED S`d A6C A6CD@?] ':D:E@CD H9@ 2C6?’E 2CC:G:?8 @? 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E96 r:G:= (2C 2?5 @?6 @7 E96 >@DE A:G@E2=[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 }2E:@?2= !2C< $6CG:46 2?5 p>6C:42? q2EE=67:6=5 %CFDE] %9:D :D 2=D@ H96C6 !C6D:56?E p3C292> {:?4@=? 56=:G6C65 9:D 72>65 v6EEJD3FC8 p55C6DD]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8mu66Dik^DEC@?8m %96 32EE=67:6=5 2?5 G:D:E@C 46?E6C 2C6 7C66 E@ 6?E6C[ 3FE E96C6 :D 2 766 7@C E96 v6EEJD3FC8 |FD6F> @7 E96 r:G:= (2C[ E96 rJ4=@C2>2 A2:?E:?8 2?5 E96 7:=> “p }6H q:CE9 @7 uC665@>[Q H9:49 2C6 @A6C2E65 3J E96 v6EEJD3FC8 u@F?52E:@?] %:4<6ED E@ 2== E9C66 4@DE Sa_]fd 7@C 25F=ED[ H:E9 5:D4@F?ED 7@C G6E6C2?D[ D6?:@CD 2?5 <:5D @G6C 286 d] z:5D 286 d 2?5 F?56C >2J 6?E6C 7@C 7C66]k^Am Cliff Palace is Mesa Verde's largest cliff dwelling with 150 rooms. National Park Service k9am|6D2 '6C56 }2E:@?2= !2C<k^9amkAmk6>mr@=@C25@k^6>mk^AmkAm%96C6 2C6 >@C6 E92? e__ p?46DEC2= !F63=@ 4=:77 5H6==:?8D :? E9:D A2C< E92E G:D:E@CD 42? 2AAC64:2E6 7C@> 2 5:DE2?46] %@ 86E FA 4=@D6[ J@F 42? E2<6 2 C2?86C\=65 E@FC[ H9:49 :D 2G2:=23=6 368:??:?8 :? |2J]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8mu66Dik^DEC@?8m Sa_ A6C G69:4=6 E9C@F89 pAC:= b_] %96 C2E6 :?4C62D6D E@ Sb_ A6C AC:G2E6 G69:4=6 7@C A62< D62D@? 7C@> |2J E9C@F89 =2E6 ~4E@36C] %@FC 766D 2C6 A@DE65 @? k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^#64C62E:@?]8@GQm#64C62E:@?]8@Gk^2m 4=@D6C E@ E96:C D62D@? @A6?:?8]k^Am San Antonio Missions National Historical Park Eve Chen, USA TODAY k9am$2? p?E@?:@ |:DD:@?D }2E:@?2= w:DE@C:42= !2C<k^9am kAmk6>m%6I2Dk^6>mk^AmkAm$2? p?E@?:@ :D 72>@FD 7@C E96 p=2>@[ H9:49 :D @H?65 3J E96 DE2E6 @7 %6I2D 2?5 >2?2865 3J 2 E9:C5 A2CEJ] w@H6G6C[ E96C6 2C6 7@FC @E96C $A2?:D9 4@=@?:2= >:DD:@?D E92E 96=A65 D92A6 E96 C68:@?] %@86E96C[ E96D6 7@FC 4F=EFC2= =2?5>2C<D >2<6 FA $2? p?E@?:@ |:DD:@?D }2E:@?2= w:DE@C:42= !2C<]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8mu66Dik^DEC@?8m t?ECJ :D 7C66]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8mu~# %wt }p%&#t {~'t#$k^DEC@?8mk^Am The sun rises over the Blue Ridge Parkway near Asheville, N.C. Angeli Wright, Asheville Citizen k9amq=F6 #:586 !2C<H2Jk^9amkAmk6>m}@CE9 r2C@=:?2 2?5 ':C8:?:2k^6>mk^AmkAm%96 q=F6 #:586 !2C<H2J H:?5D E9C@F89 D46?:4 >@F?E2:?D[ @776C:?8 DH66A:?8 G:6HD 7@C ?62C=J cf_ >:=6D H:E9 9:<:?8[ 42>A:?8 2?5 @E96C C64C62E:@? 2=@?8 E96 H2J]k^AmkAmkDEC@?8mu66Dik^DEC@?8m t?ECJ :D 7C66]k^Am k9ams62E9 '2==6J }2E:@?2= !2C<k^9amkAmk6>mr2=:7@C?:2 2?5 }6G252k^6>mk^AmkAms62E9 '2==6J :D p>6C:42’D 9@EE6DE[ 5C:6DE 2?5 =@H6DE ?2E:@?2= A2C<[ 3FE E6>A6C2EFC6D 2C6 >F49 >:=56C :? E96 DAC:?8 2?5 D@>6 J62CD[ G:D:E@CD 2C6 6G6? 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A6C>:E 766]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8mu~# %wt $xvw%$tt#$k^DEC@?8mk^Am Faneuil Hall in downtown Boston was used as a meetinghouse during the American Revolution The Daytona Beach News-Journal k9amq@DE@? }2E:@?2= w:DE@C:42= !2C<k^9am kAmk6>m|2DD249FD6EEDk^6>mk^AmkAmpD p>6C:42 46=63C2E6D :ED ad_E9 2??:G6CD2CJ E9:D J62C[ E96C6’D ?@ 36EE6C E:>6 E@ D66 #6G@=FE:@?2CJ D:E6D[ DF49 2D u2?6F:= w2== 2?5 qF?<6C w:==] (9:=6 J@F’C6 E96C6[ 5@?’E >:DD q@DE@? p7C:42? p>6C:42? }2E:@?2= w:DE@C:4 $:E6 2?5 q@DE@? w2C3@C xD=2?5D }2E:@?2= #64C62E:@? pC62]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8mu66Dik^DEC@?8m %96 A2C< 5@6D?’E 492C86 6?ECJ 766D[ 3FE A2CE?6C D:E6D =:<6 E96 !2F= #6G6C6 w@FD6 2?5 E96 ~=5 $E2E6 w@FD6 492C86 25>:DD:@?]k^Am Liberty Bell, located inside the Liberty Bell Center, in Philadelphia. CHRIS LACHALL, USA TODAY NETWORK k9amx?56A6?56?46 }2E:@?2= w:DE@C:42= !2C<k^9amkAmk6>m!6??DJ=G2?:2k^6>mk^Am kAm$66 H96C6 E96 s64=2C2E:@? @7 x?56A6?56?46 2?5 &]$] r@?DE:EFE:@? H6C6 D:8?65[ E96 {:36CEJ q6== 2?5 >F49 >@C6] }@E6 E92E r@?8C6DD w2==[ H96C6 r@?8C6DD >6E 7@C 2 564256 H9:=6 !9:=256=A9:2 H2D E96 ?2E:@?’D 42A:E2=[ :D 4=@D65 E9C@F89 =2E6 pAC:=]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8mu66Dik^DEC@?8m |@DE D:E6D 2C6 7C66 E@ 6?E6C[ 3FE E:4<6ED >2J 36 ?66565 7@C x?56A6?56?46 w2==] %9@D6 2C6 7C66 3FE 92G6 2 S` AC@46DD:?8 766] %96C6’D 2=D@ 2 Sa\d :?E6CAC6E2E:G6 766 7@C E96 q6?;2>:? uC2?<=:? |FD6F>[ 7@C G:D:E@CD @G6C 286 c] %96 E9:C5\A2CEJ }2E:@?2= r@?DE:EFE:@? r6?E6C 492C86D 25>:DD:@?]k^Am The Washington Monument is visible as Yoshino cherry trees inch toward peak bloom March 26 along the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C. Josh Morgan, USA TODAY k9am}2E:@?2= |2== 2?5 |6>@C:2= !2C<Dk^9amkAmk6>ms:DEC:4E @7 r@=F>3:2k^6>mk^Am kAm$@>6 @7 E96 ?2E:@?’D >@DE :4@?:4 D:89ED D:E 2=@?8 2?5 ;FDE @77 E96 }2E:@?2= |2==[ :?4=F5:?8 E96 {:?4@=? |6>@C:2= 2?5 E96 (2D9:?8E@? |@?F>6?E] %96 |2== 2=D@ :D 9@>6 E@ G2C:@FD $>:E9D@?:2? >FD6F>D[ H9:49 2C6 ?@E A2CE @7 E96 !2C< $6CG:46 3FE H6== H@CE9 G:D:E:?8]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8mu66Dik^DEC@?8m %96C6 2C6 ?@ 25>:DD:@? 766D 7@C @A6?\2:C D:E6D W@C $>:E9D@?:2? >FD6F>DX[ 3FE E:>65 6?ECJ E:4<6ED 2C6 C6BF:C65 7@C E96 (2D9:?8E@? |@?F>6?E] $2>6\52J E:4<6ED 2C6 2G2:=23=6 :? A6CD@? 7@C 7C66 @C 25G2?465 E:4<6ED >2J 36 3@@<65 @?=:?6 H:E9 2 S` A6C E:4<6E 766] %96C6VD 2=D@ 2 Sd 25G2?46 C6D6CG2E:@? 766 7@C D6=7\8F:565 E@FCD @7 u@C5’D %962EC6]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8mu~# %wt zxs$ Wp% wtp#%X k^DEC@?8mk^Am k9ams:?@D2FC }2E:@?2= |@?F>6?Ek^9am kAmr@=@C25@ 2?5 &E29k^AmkAm*@FC <:5D 2?5 :??6C 49:=5 H:== 36 H@H65 3J E96 yFC2DD:4\6C2 7@DD:=D 96C6] %96C6 2C6 >@C6 E92? `[d__ 3@?6D :? E96 A2C<VD s:?@D2FC "F2CCJ tI9:3:E w2== 2=@?6]k^AmkAmkDEC@?8mu66Dik^DEC@?8m Sad A6C AC:G2E6 G69:4=6k^Amk9amv@=56? v2E6 }2E:@?2= #64C62E:@? pC62k^9amkAmk6>mr2=:7@C?:2k^6>mk^Am kAmuC@> D2?5J 362496D E@ E@H6C:?8 C65H@@5 EC66D E@ :?72>@FD p=42EC2K xD=2?5[ E96C6’D D@ >F49 E@ D66 :? E9:D A2C< DA2??:?8 5@K6?D @7 D:E6D 2C@F?5 $2? uC2?4:D4@]k^AmkAmkDEC@?8mu66Dik^DEC@?8m %96C6 :D 2 S`d 6?EC2?46 766 7@C |F:C (@@5D }2E:@?2= |@?F>6?E[ A6C A6CD@? @G6C 286 `d] %96C6’D ?@ 6?ECJ 766 7@C p=42EC2K[ 3FE E9:C5\A2CEJ 76CCJ C2E6D G2CJ] !2C<:?8 766D 2E E96 !C6D:5:@ DE2CE 2E Sb A6C 9@FC @C S`_ A6C 52J]k^Am Great Sand Dunes National Park National Park Service k9amvC62E $2?5 sF?6D }2E:@?2= !2C< 2?5 !C6D6CG6k^9am kAmk6>mr@=@C25@k^6>mk^Am kAm|2CG6= @G6C E96 E2==6DE 5F?6D :? }@CE9 p>6C:42 @C D=:56 5@H? @? D2?5 3@2C5D 2?5 D=65D 2G2:=23=6 7@C C6?E @FED:56 E96 A2C<]k^Am kAmkDEC@?8mu66Dik^DEC@?8m Sad A6C AC:G2E6 G69:4=6k^Am Travel There are sharks in Las Vegas feasting on hundreds of pounds of fish every week JESSICA HILL Associated Press Travel Jet fuel prices and airfares are rising but travelers are still booking flights RIO YAMAT Associated Press Travel Rome's Colosseum gets a fresh look, recreating footprints of long-gone columns TRISHA THOMAS Associated Press To find the nearest park to you, visit the National Park Service's website at nps.gov. 0 Comments Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story The Gulf Islands National Seashore nature's beauty on full display Take a walk and experience the natural beauty of the Gulf Islands National Seashore.
Travel There are sharks in Las Vegas feasting on hundreds of pounds of fish every week JESSICA HILL Associated Press
Travel Jet fuel prices and airfares are rising but travelers are still booking flights RIO YAMAT Associated Press
Travel Rome's Colosseum gets a fresh look, recreating footprints of long-gone columns TRISHA THOMAS Associated Press
The Gulf Islands National Seashore nature's beauty on full display Take a walk and experience the natural beauty of the Gulf Islands National Seashore.
